Pisa–Catanzaro it could be a key challenge from a playoff perspective. Having reached the thirty-fifth matchday, in fact, the Giallorossi have the possibility of consolidating the ranking or closing on the teams that precede them, given that at the same time the direct clash between the third and fourth in the standings will take place, Venice–Cremonese. Pisa, on the other hand, absolutely wants to get their head into the zone valid for the post-season. At the moment, in fact, the Nerazzurri find themselves one point outside the playoff zone, just one point away from Sampdoria Of Pirloplaying at home against How second in the standings.
The opportunity, therefore, is tempting for both teams. In recent weeks, peace has returned to the Pisa environment. The capacity of the curve was increased again and so the ultras returned to singing. Above all, however, the team Aquilani found continuity of results. It hasn’t been an easy championship for the former midfielder Rome. Pisa, in fact, struggled to get going and on the twenty-seventh matchday, after a defeat against Venezia, they were close to the playout zone. The six useful results in the last eight races, however, have allowed us to find the right path.
Compared to the first leg, the Tuscans lost Ettore Gliozzigiven to Modenaand Emanuel Vignatofilmed on loan to Salernitana. Aquilani, however, remained faithful to his ideas, alternating 4-2-3-1 And 3-2-4-1: a changeable team, just like Catanzaro, so there is the possibility that the two teams could play like a mirror.
How Pisa plays
The simple numbers, however, matter little. Pisa carries out several rotations on the pitch, following some key principles. Two players must occupy the width, in order to break down the opposing defence, while at least two others must occupy the internal corridors of the pitch, looking for receptions behind the opposing midfield: pay attention, in particular, to the quality of Mattia Valoticapable of making the difference between the lines and attacking the area from behind.
In such a system it is natural that the orderly construction of the action is of great importance, starting from the goalkeepers and defenders. On the eve of the first leg, Aquilani declared himself a great admirer of Vivarini and he too, in fact, tries to get into positional play. Some statistics, upon closer inspection, show points of contact between Catanzaro and Pisa.
For example, these are the teams that carry out the greater number of steps every 90′ in Serie B: Catanzaro is first with 454.6Pisa second with 421.1 (FBref data). These are also the top two teams for theexecution of short passes (between 4 and 12 metres, that is) every 90′. Once they reach the trocar, neither of them particularly likes to resort to the cross. Catanzaro, in fact, is nineteenth in Serie B attempted crosses every 90′ (15.3), Pisa fifteenth (17.9).
Another particular fact regarding the Nerazzurri’s offensive phase is the use of dribbling. Aquilani’s team does try to manage through exchanges, but to speed up the action and create dangers in the final third of the pitch it relies on the ideas of its best players. In particular, the brothers Tramoni, Arena And D’Alessandro they are all wings capable of leaping over man and creating numerical superiority.
As regards the defensive phase, the fact of involving so many men in the attacks means that Pisa is led to seek immediate recovery of the ball so as not to be caught on the counterattack. The players close to the area where the ball was lost try to immediately attack their opponents again to nip the restart in the bud. In this sense, Pisa is third for tackles won on the attacking midfield (77).
In short, Pisa and Catanzaro share some principles. The Giallorossi, however, in this second round have shown that they know how to adapt, leaving the ball to their opponents when necessary. We will see the same script atGaribaldi Arena?
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